The Tee Box in Salado offers virtual golf experience
By Rachel Strickland | Photos courtesy of THE TEE BOX
Get on your “A” game at The Tee Box in Salado where you can play golf courses all over the world without ever having to get out your passport.
Pete Curtis, owner of The Tee Box, opened the indoor golf clubhouse in 2020 to share his love for the game. He says he’s a long-time amateur golfer and is still learning and improving his skills, which is why he wanted to provide a place for like-minded people to come in and play a few rounds.
The Tee Box offers a virtual golf experience, which means that hundreds of courses from all over the world are projected onto screens via a high-end simulator. This allows golfers to play year-round, rain or shine. The TrackMan golf simulator, used by the pros, uses dual radar technology to track data such as club and ball speed, angle, and swing direction. You can also download the TrackMan app to easily keep track of your shots and data on your phone.
According to Curtis, any golfer knows that the weather is often the biggest detour when going out on the green. But at The Tee Box, that’s not an issue. He says the other benefit of playing virtually indoors is that it introduces people to iconic golf courses in places like Japan that they may never be able to play otherwise. He says the clubhouse’s proximity to Fort Hood brings in a lot of soldiers who want to revisit courses that they played while deployed overseas.
There are over 200 full 18-hole courses to choose from, many of them famous, including Saint Andrews, Spanish Bay and Pebble Beach.
There are also a few courses located right here in Texas. According to Curtis, the TrackMan system digitally maps the actual course. “If there’s a house there with a pool behind it, there’s a house on [the screen] in the same place,” he explains. “They also put you in the same climate elevations and everything as where you’re playing.” Another huge benefit of playing virtually is that you can work on your game without having to chase around rogue balls.
While they do sell alcohol at The Tee Box, it’s not a bar scene. They are very family friendly and have virtual putt-putt, as well as snacks for the kids. They also have a pool table, shuffleboard, and indoor corn hole if golf isn’t your game. Private events and parties can be scheduled on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when the Tee Box is closed to the public. You don’t have to bring your own clubs, but they recommend that you do if you have some.
“We want people to be comfortable coming in and bringing their family,” he says. “It’s a golf community.”
IF YOU GO
Address: 113 Salado Plaza Dr., Suite B1, Salado
Phone: 254-563-5536
Hours: 6 to 10 p.m. Monday and Thursday, 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday, 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday
